the17thman

NERO RZR. Pool Goggles

Over the years I've tried and swam with different brands and colors of goggles.  For a while I was wearing Swedes and have talked about them LINK.  The good thing about them is that they are cheap and the bad thing about them is that they are cheap.  They normally come with a rubber band that is pretty flimsy and falls apart faster then others goggle straps.  And for that you can by the bungee strap swedes.  But over time the bungee straps will sometimes degrade in elasticity.  So recently I've been trying on other goggles.  The other week I tried a couple of pairs of the TYR Racetech goggles which Men's Journal called the "Best Overall Goggle" LINK.  This week now that I'm back in the water I'm trying the Blueseventy Nero RZR Pool Goggles.  I wore them this morning and so far so good.  They are comfy and have a snug fit.  I'll wear them a few more times and write more about them.  Someone who has already worn them have posted a quick review on the bluseventy blog LINK.  I figured when it is all said and done I'm going to have a goggle for every use.  A meet goggle, a day light practice goggle and a nighttime early morning goggle.  Why so many?  Well first off the practice goggles tend to scratch up as I give up using the case they come with after a few swims and secondly when it is dark out and I'm trying to read the workout on the board I don't like colored, tinted or mirrrored goggles. 

(Disclaimer:  The good folks at blueseventy provided me with the goggles to test out and review.  Check them out at bluesevnty.com)

My TYR Racetech Goggle Review

If you read this blog you know that for the last year or so I've praised the Swede Goggles.  They are cheap so it's no biggie if you leave them behind in the locker room.  What's 4 bucks?  But cheap does come with a price.  The rubber that comes with some of them is very cheap and tends to break pretty quickly.  That is when I switch to a bungee.  But not all bungees are created equal.  Or maybe I'm just harder  on goggles than others.   I don't wear hats or swim caps since I just don't the feeling of anything on my head.  I know it's odd and one of many quirks I have.  So when ever I stop in workout I take my goggles off.  Even during sets I'm pulling and tugging them on and off.  Also another problem is swimming backstroke outdoors with non-mirrored goggles.  Not fun.  Being Southern California we have this big orb in the sky most of the year.  With all that said I decided to try some new goggles out.  The TYR Racetech.

The TYR Racetech came to my attention in Men's Journal Magazine.  The mag rated them the "Best Overall Goggle" LINK.  So this pace week I've been swimming with two pairs of TYR Racetech goggles.  One was with smoke lens and one with the metallized lens.  The metallized ones I wore Sunday afternoon and the smoke ones for my morning and evening swims.  The TYR Racetech with smoke lenses retail for around $11.00 LINK and the TYR Racetech with metallized lenses retail for around $17.00 LINK.  Which is a lot cheaper than a lot of the other swim goggles that I've tried over the years. 

Because I'm always playing with my goggles in between sets I'm always getting water in my goggles.  And since I swim with my contacts that isn't a good thing.  Swimming down a lane with one eye open is not fun or very fast.  I can say that in one week I've never had a single water leakage with the TYR Racetech goggles.  They've held up to my constant wear and tear.  They feel super light.  Lighter then a few competitor goggles.  They have rubber eye sockets so they leave less of a raccoon print then Swedes.  Also with the Swedes sometimes if I place the lens on my left eye a bit low they hurt due to an old car accident injury I have.  Years ago I was hit by a car and have a piece of bone just chipped under my eye.  I almost never feel it but a few times with the Swedes I felt it.  And it hurts. The rubber on the Racetech goggles buffers so no more pinching pain.  No leaking, no pinching. 

So in my first week with my new goggles I gotta say I'm liking them.  They deserved to be Men's Journal pick for Best Overall Goggle.  I'll continue to update as I wear them over the coming weeks.

^{(Disclaimer:  The good folks at TYR provided me with the goggles to test out and review)}

Men's Journal: Best Overall Swim Goggles TYR Racetech

If you read this blog you know that I'm a fan of the Swede Goggles LINK.  But I'm not closed off to trying new goggles.  So while I was reading the June issue of Men's Journal I was stopped in my tracks flipping pages to read that TYR Racetech goggle was listed as the "best overall goggle".  According to 2 time Ironman world champion the Racetech goggle:

“It’s really comfortable, and during an hour-long swim, that’s huge,”  - source

I am assuming that when Men's Journal meant by overall goggle was that it was for open and pool water swimming.  I tried to find more information to link a page on the Men's Journal but couldn't find anything about the goggles.  For now I'm sticking with my Swede's but if I happen to find the TYR Racetech on my next swim shopping spree I may pick up a pair.  Check out more TYR products at TYR.com.

Fitsugar: The Skinny on Swedish Goggles

The FitSugar webblog finally got around to trying out my favorite swim goggles "Swedes".   Mind you I'm not normally a fan of FitSugar's swim advice but they are dead on for once.  Here is a snippet from FitSugar:

I have been looking for goggles that are kind to the delicate skin around my eyes and that also don't leak. Swedish goggles have no rubber or foam gasket to seal around the eyes and this gives them a low-drag profile, which is why racers like them. Less drag translates into faster times. The goggles are cheap, too — a pair generally costs around $4. The catch is you have to (or get to) assemble them. Think of it as a crafty fitness project, and this way you get to perfect the fit. Swedish goggles come with two eye pieces, plus string and a small blue tube to create a nose piece. A long piece of latex serves as the headband for a "secure racing fit." I was able to assemble mine in less than five minutes

You can read more on FitSugar LINK

Hobo Workout Plan: BUNGEE SWEDE GOGGLE

Since I offered to teach my friend Amy how to swim I went online to do some research on teaching people to swim.  After reading a few decent websites I stumbled upon some clueless "tri swim coach" who insisted that any good swimmer doesn't use kickboards or pull buoys as that would be cheating but using fins is not.  WHAT?  The tri guy even suggests that goggles aren't necessary as you can get used to swimming without them.  Umm...whatever.  At least buy a pair of goggles if you plan on swimming.  Personally I love Swede Goggles.  The cheapest of them all and they fit snug like a bug.  You can get a pair for with rubber straps for three bucks LINK or you can get the bungee strap which I prefer for only 6.95 LINK.  At that price you can buy a pair to match each of your swim suits. 

I left behind my bungee swedes in the men's locker room and they were never to be seen again.   I am currently using an older pair of swedes with the rubber strap which is slowly breaking apart. For my friend I have an old pair of Pink TYR goggles that I got free at a meet for her to use.  She likes pink as much as I do. 

Blueseventy Hydra-Vision Goggles

An open water swimmer gets a sneak peek at the Blueseventy Hydra-Vision Goggles and blogs it up over at the Blueseventy Blog.  I don't do open water swims, yet, but do have a pair of Blueseventy goggles.  Just in case I swim into an open area of water.

TYR: Smart Chart: The Goggle Selection System

When it comes to goggles us swimmers are a picky bunch.  Everyone has a brand or style that they favor and for some us we won't switch no matter how much you pay us.  I've known swimmers who once they find a brand buy enough stock of that particular brand they can outfit three or four college swim teams.  As for me I have a variety of goggles but have been sticking with my $3.95 pair of Swedes.  My second favorite goggles are from Blueseventy as they never fog up but they are open swim goggles so I look like I'm about to go scuba diving in the pool.  But next time I'm in my goggle shopping mode I'm going to check TYR's new SmartChart. 

The TYR SmartChart makes buying goggles a snap by breaking down the needs of the swimmer and matching it to the correct goggle for that need.  Here is the lowdown according to the press release:

By breaking down four key product attributes, The Smart Chart uses universal icons and an easy to follow scale that allows swimmers of all levels to identify the correct goggle with ease. These four categories and explanations have been simplified, and color-coded, to represent the following:
 
Ability Level (Red): Beginner to expert.
Gasket Size (Blue): Smaller to larger.
Gasket Softness (Green): Firm to harder.
Sight / Peripheral (Yellow): Narrow to wide.

Since it is my birthday this Saturday I think I may buy myself a new pair of goggles as although I love my Swedes I am not a fan of walking around all day with raccoon eyes.  I just might have to try TYR for a change of pace.  As for other brands I can cross off Nike goggles off my list as I've never had a pair from NIKE that I liked.  I know Tony over the SCAQ Blog is a huge fan of TYR as he recently bought the Tracer Racing Metalized to go along with his TYR Tracer Comp Suit.  I just know that I prefer clear goggles over any colored lenses.  I think when you swim in the dark at 6am the colored lens gives everything a hazy glow in the morning.

Swimmers Gift Giving Guide

Image via WikipediaEvery swimmer needs goggles.  Lot's of goggles.  You always have to carry two pairs at all times.  You never know when a pair will break somehow.  It could be a meet or at swim practice.  My favorite goggles are the cheapest.  Swedish Goggles.  Seriously they don't say "Once You Go Swede, You Never Go Back" for no reason. 

They are cheap as dirt and fit like heaven.  Of course like everything else you can pimp them out with various bands, cords or bungee straps.  Plus the lenses come in various colors.  Since I swim at 6am or at 7pm I prefer the clear since I'm swimming at night.  Yeah, the pool has lights but still not a fan of the colored lenses.  Although swimming backstroke in the daytime bites if you don't have a tinted pair.  So buy a couple of colors to go along with the clear.  I recently replaced the rubber strap after it broke with a bungee.  After three workouts I'm struggling to get the right fit  The rubber strap was a better fit, but that is just me.

Swimoutlet has the best prices that I've found.  You may have to buy a couple to justify the shipping.  I went to a swim meet after I got them at Swimoutlet and they swim meet price was double the swimoutlet price.

List Price: $5.00

Our Price: $2.79

You Save $2.21!

Steampunk Goggles

Since the rubber strap on my Swedes broke last week I've been swimming with I call my Frankengoggles.  Part Swede / Part Speedo.  I have a box of mix and match spare goggle parts.  But the one thing I don't have in my collection is this pair of steampunk goggles.

via gizmodo LINK

Frankengoggle

During Wednesday's practice the rubber strap from my swede goggles snapped so I went into my box of random goggle parts and improvised a new pair of goggles.  They are my frankengoggles and I may use them this weekend.